An ultra-thin video endoscope can be used to examine the upper gastrointestinal tract, Italian researchers have reported.

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Doctors sought to insert the endoscope through the nose without anesthetic or sedation.

The examination was completed successfully in 90% of a series of 347 patients, doctors from S. Camillo Hospital in Rieti, Italy, reported to the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in New York last week.

Nasal video endoscope is 6mm wide.

The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) endoscope is 6 mm thick and was inserted through the nose without sedation or topical anesthesia.

23 patients were examined using an even thinner fiber optic scope, 5.3 mm wide. Another 11 had to be examined through the mouth.

The researchers, led by Dr Sandro Boschetto, said: "In our experience this new technique is easy and safe. We think that transnasal video EGD has the potential to become an office procedure in the routine practice of diagnostic EGD."